Spinneret supporting bracket



Feb- 26, 1952 H. J. MGDERMOTT SPINNERET SUPPORTING BRACKET Filed March 2Q, 195o ATTORNEY.

Patented Feb. 26, 1952 UNITED STATES TENT orgies SPINNERET SUPPORTING BRACKET Application March 20, 1950, Serial No. 152,225

11 Claims. (Cl. 18-8) This invention relates to equipment for producing filamentary material by discharging small streams of a spinning solution into a bath which converts the stream into filaments, and particularly to equipment adapted to produce viscose filaments.

It is customary to discharge viscose solutions or other filament-forming liquids from a spinneret into a liquid coagulant which is maintained at a desired depth above the spinneret and at a desired temperature. A single spinning machine may comprise fty or more spinnerets'which are submerged within a single spinning bath container; on other installations, a separate container may be provided for each spinneret.

In conventional spinning apparatus in use at present, a spinning solution is passed through members of an assembly (in the order named) comprising a filter, a rounder, and a spinneret. The assembly is pivotably supported by a portion of the filter case so that the spinneret may be swung into and out of the spinning bath. An acljustable stop limits the swinging of the assembly and determines the depth of spinneret immersion. The degree of immersion may be changed also by loosening the coupling which joins the rounder to the filter case and turning the rounder with respect to the coupling to raise or lower the spinneret with respect to the bath surface. The degree 0f immersion is measured by manually inserting a rule into the bath to each spinneret face. Coating of the stop surfaces with corrosion products, spinning solution decomposition products, or spinning bath materials may appreciably affect the depth of spinneret immersion. The equipment is therefore frequently inspected and these surfaces cleaned, if necessary. When spinning yarns at less than 100 meters per minute, depth settings of the spinnerets may be permitted to vary within a sixteenth of an inch over or under the specified setting without causing objectionable variation in the quality of the finished yarn. However, when spinning filaments at speeds greater than 150 meters per minute, it is important to accurately control the depth of spinneret emersion because of the degree to which the depth of spinneret immersion affects the amount of liquid picked by the lamentary material passing from the spinneret through the spinning bath. The amount of liquid carried by the yarn filaments determines the drag thereon and, as the speed increases, so does this drag which has a marked affect on the physical and dyeing properties of the yarn. It

mentary material.

is desired to keep the liquid drag as low as possible to obtain best yarn properties, therefore, the depth setting of the spinneret becomes more critical to maintain substantially constant levels.

It is an object of the present invention to provide apparatus for spinning lamentary material which effects positive and accurate depth of spinneret immersion within a bath of of minimum volume. It is also an object to provide a simplied duct system for supplying liquid to a spinneret immersion vessel mounted on a spinneret. Another object is to provide an apparatus for movably supporting a spinneret and for supplying a liquid to an immersion vessel therefore; the apparatus being so constructed as to automatically terminate the flow of the liquid to the vessel when moved out of its operative position. Still another object is to provide apparatus in which hot liquid coagulant or other yarn treating liquid may be conducted directly into a small body of the liquid supported around a spinneret and over the face thereof so as to avoid the reduction in temperature which occurs in conventional equipment between the liquid entering the spinning bath and the portion of the bath actually in contact with the spinneret and the extruded product thereof. It is also an object to limit the body of coagulant supported around and over a spinneret to a small volume of which the supply and discharge rates are such as to provide a quick exchange or turnover of the liquid and to thus avoid an appreciable presence of impurities such as particles of coagulum or viscose skin, or unstable sludge forming materials separating from the liquid which might become attached to the fila- Other objects, features and advantages will become apparent in the following description of the invention and the drawing relating thereto in which:

Fig. l is an elevation in section of apparatus according to the invention used for spinning a multiple lament yarn from a liquid filamentforming material;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the movable portion of the apparatus illustrated in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary elevation of the pivot joint of the apparatus in Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a section of a portion of the apparatus taken along line IV-IV in Fig. 2; and

Figs. 5, 6, and 7 are sectional views of modifications of the apparatus.

Briefly, the apparatus of the invention comprises an assembly for movably supporting a spinneret and a small immersion vessel therefor, fOr Conducting a filament-forming liquid to the spinneret, and for conducting a liquid coagulant or other liquid to the immersion vessel. The assembly comprises a bracket which may be pivoted to carry the spinneret attached thereto into and out of a desired spinning position. The bracket is provided with separate systems of passageways for conducting the spinning liquid and the coagulant to the spinneret and the immersion vessel respectively,

Figs. l to 4 illustrate a bracket I0 pivotally attached to the fixture II illustrated in Figs. l and 2. The bracket I is pivoted with respect to the iixture I I to swing into and out of a container i2. The bracket Il comprises a base member I3 and a removable extension member I4. The spinning position of the bracket is determined by engagement oi a boss l5 of the bracket with the outer surface of the container I2 at I3. The position in which it is withdrawn from the container is established by engagement of a surface of the bracket at I'I with a stop surface I9 of the xture II. An overflow duct IS or other means for discharging` the spinning bath liquid from the container determines the depth of the liquid within the container at a level below the top edge of an immersion cup or coupling 22 which surrounds the spinneret 2|) as shown in Fig. 4. rIhe bracket extension I4 is annularly recessed to receive the cup 22 in threaded relationship with the outer wall of the recess 2I. the member i4 extends upwardly within the recess ZI to provide a seating surface for the spinneret 29. The strand-immersing cup 22 serves as a coupling with which to secure the spinneret 2Q to the bracket. A resilient washer 25 is provided between the spinneret flange 2G and the shoulder 2T formed between two concentric bores of different radii of the cup 22 to obtain a tightly sealed connection. The cup 22 is provided with a plurality of holes 28 extending generally parallel to its axis through which a coagulant or other liquid may pass from the bottom of the recess 2| to reach the region within the cup surrounding the spinneret 2Q. The recess 2| is contiguous with a passageway 3| which connects with another larger passageway 32 within the arm of the bracket member I3. Passageway 32 extends upwardly from passageway 3| and/or terminates in a reservoir or pocket 35 adapted for receiving a stream of liquid, e. g. a liquid coagulant, dis

charged from a stationary orifice tube 3B.

The iilament-forming liquid is passed through the bracket to the spinneret from a supply tube 4! such as shown in Fig. 3 through a hollow pivot nlug l2 into a passageway 43 of the bracket. The passageway 43 is contiguous with a rounder 45 attached at one end to the bracket IVI! by a coupling 46 and at its other end to the spinneretsupporting extension I4 by another coupling 41. The tubular extension 23 is provided with a central bore 5I which conducts the liquid from the discharge end of the rounder 45 to the spinneret 2U. l

Extension member I4 and the bracket base member I3 are separable and constructed with mating surfaces 48 and 49 so that when the screw 5B in threaded relationship with the member i4 is tightened against the member I3, the member I4 tightly engages the surface 48 and a lip 52 of member I3 to bring the passageway 3| into accurate alignment with the aperture 53. The lip 52 helps to support the member I4 and the fittings attached thereto, particularly in the event that the screw 58 works loose. in operation, V.the bracket I0 is positioned A tubular extension 23 of within the vessel i2 as shown in Figs. 1 to 4. A lament-forming liquid passes from tube 43, through the pivot joint into passageway 43 of the bracket IB, thence into and through the rounder 45, through the passageway 5|, and through ne apertures of the spinneret 20 to a godet or takeup roll (not shown) mounted above the apparatus of the drawing. The material which passes from the spinneret passes through a treating liquid having a depth over the spinneret equaling the diierence in levels between the spinneret face and that of the liquid passing over the top edge 22a of the immersion cup 22.

A treating liquid reaches the cup 22 by being discharged from the oriiice of the tube 38 into the reservoir 35. The liquid iiows downwardly through the passageway 32, through the aperture 53 and the passageway 3! to enter the recess 2|. It then passes into the region within the cup 22 which surrounds the spinneret until the liquid overows the edge If a liquid such as a coagulant is supplied from the tube 38 in greater quantity than will pass through the passageways of the bracket just named, it may overiow from the reservoir over the edge 35d. Liquid overflowing the edges 22a and 35a: is collected in the vessel I2 until the level of the liquid is raised to the' overflow duct I8. ln the event that the lament-forming liquid must be heated before it passes through the spinneret, the coagulating or yarn treating liquid may be heated before it is discharged by the tube 38, to provide a bath in which to heat the rounder 43 through which the lament-forming liquid is passing. The tube 3B is supported in a position which is offset with respect to the edges 35a so that the bracket and other parts attached thereto may be swung out of the vessel I2 about the pivot axis 54. A boss or handle 55 extending laterally from the member I3 may be used when lifting or swinging the bracket. When this happens, the liquid flowing from the tube 38 discharges directly into the vessel I2.

The diierence in levels of the overflow edge 35a and the cun edge 22a determine liquid head and consequently to a large extent the rate of flow of liquid into the cup 22. However, the construction of the bracket and the cup may be varied in many ways to change the rate of flow of a liquid supplied thereto from the orice tube 38, such as constructing the edge 35a at a higher or lower level, increasing or decreasing the size and/ or the member of apertures 2B, and increasing or decreasing the cross-sectional area of the ducts 3|, 32 and 53. An important advantage derived from the spinneret immersion system according to this invention is the introduction of the treating liquid into the bottom of the cup 22 from a plurality of apertures uniformly arcuately and radially spaced from the extrusion apertures of the spinneret 2Q. Bv this arrangement, the treating liquid is applied to the iilament-forming material issuing from the spinneret in a concentric stream which promotes circumferentially uniform reaction between the coagulant and the lamentary material.

Fig. 5 illustrates in section another arrangement by which a member Ida for supporting the spinneret 2B and the immersion coupling 22 may be attached to a base bracket member I3a. The member I4a is provided with a round threaded portion 56 which extends through a complementary bore 51 of the member I3a. A nut 69 in threaded relationship with element .53 secures the members I 3c and Ito tightly at seating surfaces at 58. Member 14a is provided with a passa-geway 62 contiguous with the passageway 32a with the bracket section through which to conduct a liquid to the region 64 of the cup for treating the fllamentary material.

Fig. 6 illustrates in section another arrangement wherein a bracket lllb is recessed and threaded to receive a, fixture 'l0 having exterior threads of two sizes. The xture 'l0 is supported in threaded relationship by the bracket 12. The bracket Illb is also recessed to permit attachment of an immersion coupling 22D in threaded relationship with the threads of smaller diameter of the fixture 10, and extension of the lower portion 'I4 of the coupling substantially into the recess 2lb. The portion i4 of the cup 22h has a smaller outer diameter than the recess so that the surface of the cup does not engage the wall of the recess when being attached to the xture 10. material and of a, construction such as illustrated, surrounds the coupling 22h to effect a seal between the shoulder 19 of the coupling and the surface 80 of member Ib surrounding the recess 2 Ib. Such a washer prevents the escape of liquid from recess 2 lb through the clearance 8| between the wall of the recess and the cup 2217. The washer 'I8 may be made according to any equivalent fiexible construction which permits the coupling 22h to seat with respect to the upper surface of the fixture 'l0 instead of the surface 8i! of the bracket lob.

As an alternative construction (not shown) the mating surfaces of fixture 70 and bracket Ib along the portion shown threaded in Fig. 6 are smoothly formed to produce a shrink fit. A smooth-bore mating surface in the bracket Ib is provided in place of the threaded surface shown which is preferably a few thousandths of an inch smaller in diameter than the surface of fixture 10. The bracket and the xture may be bracket Ib which is apertured to receive the ilxture 10, then inserting the fixture into the aperture, and allowing the bracket to cool and to shrink around the fixture.

Fig. 7 illustrates a :bracket Hic constructed in such a manner that the exteriorly threaded couplings 41 and 22 may be attached directly to portions of the bracket which have been recessed and the recesses threaded along their outer circumferences. The unitary bracket shown is provided with passageways S5 and 86 which may be formed by drilling the bracket in two directions. The end of the passageway 88 is closed off by a plug 89 which may be removed to facilitate the cleaning of the passageways.

As heretofore mentioned, an important advantage of the present invention is the positive and accurate spinneret immersion that is inherent in the present construction regardless of operating conditions or the length of service period. Moreover, when the liquid material for treating the product discharged from the spinneret is introduced, as herein described, into an immersion cup through the bottom thereof in a stream pattern which is concentric with respect to the spinneret face, the liquid material comes into contact with the spinneret product at substantially uniform concentration along all portions of the periphery of any cross section of the extruded product.

In conventional spinning equipment, there is a customary drop in temperature of several degrees between the solution entering the spinning A washer or grommet i8 of flexibly elastic bath and the portion of the bath in which the spinneret is immersed. Such a drop in temperature has little or no effect when spinning rayon yarn at the customary speeds of conventional equipment but when spinning rat rates of 200 to 300 meters per minute or more, inability to use the coagulant at the maximum temperature permissible at the spinneret immersion zone may seriously restrict the spinning capacity of the equipment. Due to the more rapid setting up or coagulation into fibers of the streams of material being discharged from the spinneret when hotter coagulating solution is used, it is desirable to bring the coagulant into contact with the spinneret product at the highest practicable temperature.

However, in viscose rayon spinning practice, it is common to add a surface tension reducing agent to the coagulant. Some of the surface active agents tend to separate from the bath and collect at the surface thereof as an oily material or a sludge when the temperature of the bath is too high. Hence, a very important advantage of the invention is realized by passing the coagulant at the highest temperature permissible directly into contact with the ber forming material leaving the spinneret before the coagulant has any opportunity to cool or to accumulate liquid or particulate impurities that might be picked by the fiber-forming material leaving the spinneret. The immersion cup of the apparatus herein described permits yarn treatment or coagulation at the highest temperature to which the coagulant may be heated and, moreover, due to the rapid exchange of liquid to and from the small body of coagulant supported around the spinneret, the surface of the liquid body is flushed free from small particles of foreign matter such as viscose coagulant or skin, and other particles of sludge or viscous materials that may have separated from the coagulant which are, in conventional spinning equipment, likely to be picked up by the freshly spun viscose yarn passing from the spinning bath. While preferred embodiments of the invention have been shown and described, it is to be understood that changes and variations may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

l. An apparatus for spinning lamentary material comprising a pivotable bracket, a spinneret mounted on the bracket in spaced relationship with the pivot axis, said spinneret facing upwardly when the bracket is positioned for spinning, a coupling in engagement with an annular surface of the spinneret for securing the spinneret to the bracket having an upwardly-extending annular flange which is higher than the spinneret and concentrically spaced with respect thereto', the edge of said flange being an overflow surface, duct means through the coupling having a terminal opening within the space surrounded by the flange for introducing a liquid into the space. and means for conducting a liquid to and forcing it through the spinneret.

2. An apparatus for spinning lamentary material comprising a movable bracket, an upwardly-facing spinneret mounted on the bracket, a container mounted on the bracket surrounding the spinneret and having an overflow surface which is higher than the face of the spinneret when the bracket is in a position for spinning, a reservoir in an upper portion of the bracket, a passageway through the bracket connecting the reservoirand the container, a stationary orifice aligned to discharge liquid into the reservoir when the bracket is in the spinning position, and means for conducting a filament-forming liquid to the spinneret.

3. An apparatus for spinning lamentary material as in claim 2 comprising a vessel with respect to which the bracket and parts mounted thereon are movable between a position inside of the vessel and a position outside of the vessel, said vessel arranged to receive liquid from the orince when the bracket is moved from spinning position, and overiiow means for the vessel positioned at a lower level than that of the overflow surfaces of said container. .a

4. An apparatus for spinning lamentary material comprising a, spinneret, a pivotable bracket for supporting the spinneret on an annular projection thereof remote from the pivot axis of the bracket, said spinneret facing upwardly at the spinning position of the bracket, a support member for the bracket having a bearing surface which engages a, surface of the bracket in rotatable and coaxial relationship to form a pivot joint, contiguous passageways in the member and the bracket which connect within the joint, duct means contiguous with the bracket passageway leading from the pivot joint and terminating in a passageway through said annular projection, means for supplying a filament-forming liquid to the passageway of the support member at suiicient pressure to force the liquid through the spinneret, a coupling concentric with respect to the annular projection end in threaded relationship with the bracket for securing the spinneret against a seating surface on said projection, said coupling having an upwardly extending flange which surrounds the spinneret face in spaced relationship and is higher than said face to support a body of liquid thereover, at least one aperture through the coupling opening into the space surrounded by the flange, and duct means connecting with the aperture to introduce a liquid into said space.

5. An apparatus for spinning lamentary material comprising a pivotable bracket, a spinneret mounted on the bracket in spaced relationship with the pivot axis of the bracket, said spinneret facing upwardly when the bracket is positioned for spinning, a coupling in engagement with an annular surface of the spinneret and in threaded relationship with the bracket for securing the spinneret to the bracket, said coupling having an upwardly extending ange which surrounds the spinneret face in spaced relationship and is higher' than said face to support a body of liquid thereover, at least one aperture through the coupling which opens into the space surrounded by the flange, duct means within the bracket connected with the aperture to introduce a liquid into said space, and means for conducting a liquid to and forcing it through the spinneret.

6. An apparatus for spinning lamentary ma.- terial comprising a pivotable bracket, said bracket having an annularly recessed portion remote from the pivot axis which defines an annular core which extends centrally upwardly within the recess when the bracket is in spinning position, a spinneret supported on the core to face upwardly, a coupling for securing the spinneret to the core and having an annular portion which extends into the annular recess in threaded relationship with a surface thereof, said coupling having an upwardly extending flange which surrounds the spinneret face in spaced relationship and is higher than said face-t0 support a body of liquid thereover, a reservoir in the bracket having an overflow surface which is higher than the ange, a passageway connecting the reservoir with the bottom of the annular recess, a plurality of arcuately-spaced holes arranged concentrcally to the spinneret and extending through said annular portion of the coupling for conducting liquid from the bottom of the annular recess to the space surrounded by the flange, and means for conducting a filament-forming liquid to the spinneret.

7.*An apparatus as in claim 6 wherein the coupling is provided with a male thread for threaded engagement with the larger wall of the annular recess.

8. An apparatus as in claim 6 comprising a coupling having an annular surface of larger diameter overhanging said lower annular portion, and a resilient compressible washer extending between said surface and the surface of the bracket surrounding the annular recess, said lower annular portion of the coupling being in threaded engagement with said annular core and axially adjustable with respect thereto to secure the periphery of the spinneret between the end surface of the core and a seating surface of the coupling.

9. An apparatus for spinning iilamentary material comprising a spinneret, a pivotable bracket for supporting the spinneret on an annular core defined by an annular recess provided in a portion of the bracket remote from its pivot axis, said core extending upwardly when the bracket is in spinning position, a member for supporting the bracket having a bearing surface which engages in rotatable and coaxial relationship a bearing surface of the bracket to form a pivot joint, contiguous passageways in the member and the bracket which connect within the joint, duct means contiguous with the bracket passageway leading from the pivot joint and connecting with the passageway of the annular core, means for supplying a filament-forming liquid to the passageway of the support member, a coupling for securing the spinneret against the end surface of the core and having a lower annular portion which extends into said annular recess in threaded relationship with a surface thereof, said coupling having an upwardly extending ange which surrounds the spinneret in spaced relationship and is higher than said face to support a body of liquid thereover, a reservoir in a portion of the bracket higher than the flange, a passageway connecting the reservoir with the bottom of the annular recess, and a plurality or arcuately spaced holes extending through the lower annular portion of the coupling and` concentrically spaced with respect to the core for conducting liquid from the bottom of the recess into the space surrounded by the flange.

10. Anv apparatus for spinning iilamentary ma terial comprising a spinneret, a pivotable bracket comprising a base member and an extension member, the extension member being secured to and supported by the base member, a member for supporting the bracket having a bearing surface which engages in rotatable and coaxial relationship a bearing surface of the base member to form a pivot joint, the extension member of the bracket supporting the spinneret on an annular core dened by an annular recess in a portion of said member remote from the pivot axis of the bracket, said core extending upwardly when the bracket is in spinning position, a Apassageway in the support member and a passageway in the base ber of the bracket connecting with the passagf way of the annular core, means for supplyinga A filament-forming liquid to the passageway of the support member, a coupling for securing the spin`v neret against the end surface of the core and having a lower annular portion extending into said annular recess in threaded relationship with a surface thereof, said coupling having an upwardly extending flange which surrounds the spinneret in spaced relationship and is higher than said face to support a body 0f liquid thereof, a reservoir in the base member higher than vthe ange, connect-ing passageways in the base mem`` ber and the extension member extending between the reservoir and the bottom of the recess, and a plurality of arcuately spaced holes extending through the lower annular portion of the coupling' and concentrically spaced with respect to the core 20 2,284,497

for conducting a liquid from the bottom of the recess into the space surrounded by the flange.

11. Apparatus as in claim 10 wherein the Abracket members are secured together by extension of an end portion of one member through an apertured section of the other member, and aclamp screw in threaded relationship with the second-named member extending into the aperture to engage the rst-named member.

HENRY J. MCDERMOTT.

REFERENoEs CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,138,394 Wuppermann Nov. 29, 1938 2,246,990 Wuppermann June 24, 1941 Torrence et al May 26, 1942 

